President Obama shakes hands with New York City Police Detective Ivan Marcano / Carolyn Kaster, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

The next time President Obama ponders the difficulties of his job, he can always think of New York City Police Detective Ivan Marcano.

Obama told Marcano's story at a Saturday ceremony honoring the nation's police officers of the year.

It begins when Marcano -- off-duty and on a date -- saw two muggers attack a cab driver in the Bronx, Obama said.

"He got out of his girlfriend's car to stop them and was shot point blank in the chest, a bullet inches from his heart," he said.

It doesn't end there.

"As his girlfriend was driving him to the hospital -- I'm sure not very happy with him -- by total coincidence, they ran into the shooter's getaway car," the president explained -- and so Marcano got out of the car again.

"He's been shot -- keeps pressure on his chest with his left hand, holding a service weapon with his right -- he runs after the suspects," Obama said. "He took one of them down, which led to the capture of the others."

All this while Marcano was off the clock.

"This was his date night," Obama said. "It's unbelievable."

Obama spoke at a White House honoring the 43 recipients of the National Association of Police Organizations' TOP COPS awards.

"The cab driver who Detective Marcano rescued put it simply," Obama said. "He said, 'I will be thankful to him for the rest of my life.'"

The president added: "So today, to all our Top Cops,let me say that our nation shares that sense of gratitude. You embody America at its best and at its bravest."